THE ARTIST (Michael Hazanivicius, La Petite Reine, 2011)

I am often asked what it is I look for when watching a film. My immediate response is always that story comes first and this includes writing and dialogue. Next comes acting, the overall job of direction and technical aspects that have stood out during my viewing of the film. After this, if a film can be self reflexive towards the film industry, if it makes social commentary or if it has historical context; any of these things raises a films standing. Finally if it pays homage to classic film that will make the film a home run. Every now and again I get to see such a film, and THE ARTIST (Michael Hazanivicius, La Petite Reine, 2011) is everything I just described and more.

Let's start with the narrative which brilliantly weaves three traditional stories into the film. The first of course is your classic love story. The film mainly deals with the romance of George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) and Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo). Theirs is an obvious love from the start yet obstacles are set in their way from the beginning. As in all films from the classic era love overcomes all and in the end out two lovers are united. Subsequently the narrative also has the story of a man who due to his pride and vanity has a dramatic fall in life, almost to his demise. George Valentin's tale is the classic one of a man at the top of the world losing it all, only to realize what really matters and win it all back. Finally the narrative is set in that transitional world of Hollywood between the silent era and the advent of 'talkies'. The writing for this film is very good, weaving these story lines together. The lack of dialogue actually makes the writing even better, as it allows the story to be told by it's actors.

The films actors all do a great job, conveying a range of emotion and feeling without the crutch of dialogue. Dujardin is great as George, capturing the essence of a silent era star. At times he evokes images of Douglas Fairbanks, Gene Kelly and even Fred Astaire. And if you can pull people in reminding them of those three greats you are accomplishing something. Bejo is quite literally a revelation. I had never seen or heard about this great actress before seeing this film. Another in the long list of great foreign actresses who never seem to get any acknowledgement from Hollywood.

The job that Michael Hazanivicius does will not be overlooked by Hollywood. He pulls together a fantastic film with great performances by every actor as well as great production design and art direction, an amazing score and sound design, some beautiful shot composition and cinematography and some of those classic memorable movie moments. He captures the transition of the silent era perfectly. His stars have that essence, his film feels like a silent era film.

The production design, along with the art direction really are driving forces in making this film work. Without extensive work in the areas of costumes, props, vehicles and set design the film wouldn't have worked quite as well. An aside, after viewing the film the person next to me in the theatre and I were talking. It just happens that her companion was a supplier of many of the films props. Just one of those great things about living in Hollywood!

The score to the film was another aspect that was technically masterful. A very nice combination of new compositions and old my only moments of pause were that there were a few moments which seemed to be poor transitions. The cinematography was excellent, particularly since the film is entirely shot in black and white.

And this brings me to the first of several amazing moments. Without spoiling too much in the film, the shot composition is so well done. The juxtaposition of old actor and fresh ingenue in various scenes is done well. And the shot where George drowns his sorrows and then his image in the mirror was breathtaking. What a remarkable shot. The opening sequence being set in the theatre with an actual orchestra playing was a touch of magic. And the final scene was one of the greats, truly memorable. I had chills watching it and the welling up of emotion was powerful to say the least.

The film as a whole, being truly self reflexive, showing a slice of the history of Hollywood makes it great. The homages to SINGING IN THE RAIN (best was George laughing at the girls voice as he watched a talkie, just like Lina Lamont) were endless. George Valentin was a great amalgam of Gene Kelly as Don Lockwood, Douglas Fairbanks in anything, Fred Astaire in SWING TIME. The true depictions of great silent era stars, those tragic figures that couldn't quite deal with the transition their industry undertook. Even Clifton (James Cromwell) is basically playing Max (Erich Von Stroheim) from SUNSET BOULEVARD.

For one of the only times in my life I clapped upon completion of this masterpiece. In a true testament to it's hold on me, I immediately wanted to see it again. I will see it again, very soon and I know that with each viewing I will find new pieces of magic that this film offers. In a world that is hype driven I can freely say that I believe this film to be the best released this year.